Lettering-machine.



T. D. HOOPER','JR.

I LETTERING MACHINE.

APFLIEATION FILED MAY 25. 1918.

Patented Jan. 21,1919.

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' womwg T. D. HOQPEB, JR. LETTERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZSI IBIS.

Patented Jan. 1 1919,

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1 O HOMER, JR,

LETTERING MACE-W APHECATION mm .4 H P wi am. 41, 1919.

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UNITED STATES ra'rnn carrier THOMAS D. HOOPER, JR, F IPHILAEELYHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Original application filed January 26, 1917, {Serial No. 144,727. Divided and this application filed May 25,

. 1818. Serial No. 286,448.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. Hoornn, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, 6 and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Lettering- Machine, of which the following is a specification, the same being a division of my application serially #144,727, filed January This invention relates broadly considered to lettering machines and has more particular relation to that class of such machines which permit of printing upon flat surfaces without the employment of platens and specifically relates to the escapement mechanism of a machine for lettering boxes, crates, barrel, keg and cask heads and similar articles of mechandise.

'It is an object of the present invention to provide a lettering machine of the character stated equipped with a new and novel form of escapement mechanism, and further provide certainconstructions, combinations and connections of parts relative thereto. A further object of the invention is to provide a lettering machine the base ends of which are so shaped and proportioned that the machine may be readily positioned upon the head ofa barrel, cash or keg for printing purposes. \Vith-these and other objects in view as will hereinafter more fully appear, the" invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described and finally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more. fully understood from the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings forming part hereof and in which p 0 Figure l is a top or plan view of the lettering machine.

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken upon the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

5 Fig. 3 is a. similar view taken upon the line 33 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, the release key being shown indashed lines in order to illustrate its pointaof connection.

ig. 4 is a fragmentary view in plan of 1 in ring for supporting the inking pads.

/ Fig. 5 is a view in section taken upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig.6 is--a rear view of a pad holding plate. 7

F 7 is a side view of a ty pe-head; F g. 8 is a bottom view thereof.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a key-arm support.

Fig. 10 is a top or plan view of such support.

Fig. 11 is a view in side elevation of key-arm.

F ig. 12 is a perspective view of a keyguid Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken upon. the line 1313 of Fig. 12. r

Fig. 14 is a similar view taken upon the line 14 14 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 15 is a similar view taken upon the line 1515 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a view in side elevation of the base of the machine drawn to a reduced scale and mounted upon a barrel head shown in dash lines. gig. 17 is a top or plan view of the same, an.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view hereinafter referred to.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at pres ent preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized within the scope of the appended claims and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrument'alities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that the machine embraces, broadly stated, a base made up of a pair of fixed longitudinally extended rails and a releas-- able carriage movable therealong under spring tension. The base comprises a pair of spaced. parallel beams 10, cut away as at 13 to lighten construction and which beams are connected at each end by cross-pieces 11 formed integral therewith. The crosspieces in plan arecurved upon an arc of a circle as shown in Figs. 1 and 17 and are notched as at 11' for a purpose to presently appear; Considered in elevation. these crosspicce s 11 are of substantially inverted U- shape as shown in Fig. 18. The purpose of the specific form of cross-pieces disclosed fess is so that the beams may be rigidly connected 1'10 at their ends but still permit the base as a whole being placed upon a barrel head, it being understood that thebeams 10 rest upon the head 14 of: a barrel and that the cross-pieces overhang the chime ll of a barrel. Fixed upon the top of each beam 10 'is a guide piece 15 of which oneis ,othed to provide a rack 16. These guideypieces project beyond the curved part 11 of the beams so that when the beams are positioned upon a barrel head as shown in Fig. 16, the guide pieces 15 rest u on the chime 14." of the barrel and the curved ends of said beams are positioned inside of said chime. The extreme ends of said guide pieces 15 are connected by cross-pieces 15. The guide pieces 15 are beveled upon theirinneg aces. Secured to the botto of carriage 19 ;re parallel spaced, guide pieces 17 the out r faces of which are beveled for cooperati-je engage v ment with the beveled faces of the guide pieces 15. These guide pieces 17 do not extend beyond the carriage structure '19. These guide pieces 17 are :xzcommodate'd by the notched parts 11 6f the cross-pieces 11 in the back and forth tiavel of the carriage 19. By the arrangement of parts 16- 17, it will be observed that while the carriage is free to be moved back ails] forth, it is interlocked with respect to the base. The carriage whidh is adapted to move along the base under spring tensionwhen released as will presently appear comprises a shelllike structure 19 of circiilar form considered in plan having a removable cover 20 centrally apertured as shown." At the left hand side of the carria e there is fixed thereto an arm or projection 21 operatively supported upon which is a coiled spring 22 the free end of which is secured to the righthand side of the base as at 23, see Fig. 1, it being understood that in printing the movement of the carriage is from left to right. A description will now be given of the release mechanism which is designated A and is located at the back of the machine although the release key 24 is placed at the righthand side of the machine opposite the key-board 25 for confixed stud 32 and the dog 31 has fixed thereto an arm 33 connecting with which is a spring 34 for normally keeping said dog out of engagement with theratchet wheel 27;".

The free end of the arm 33 is connected by through as shown in said figure.

lever 42 being connected to a depending member 42 fixed to a freely ti'ltable disk 43. The normal position of the disk'43 is that shown in Fig. 2 or in other words it rests in horizontal position upon the arms 45 of keys 4:0 the disk being apcrtured at suitable places to permit said aims i5 to project there- By depressing a key 40 as shown at the lefthand side of Fig. 3, the outer end of arm 45 tilts disk 43 which tilting through member 42, lever 42, link41 and rod 41 raises arm 33 and causes dog 31 to move toward the ratchet wheel 27 which movement causes dog 30 to be disengaged from a tooth and permitting ratchet wheel 27 to move in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 14: for the distance of one tooth whereupon the ratchet wheel is stopped spring 39. By'the above operation, it will be observedthat every time a key 40 is operated thecarriagc moves a predetermined distance. In conjunction with the above movement a spacer is necessary. The spacer key is designated 56and is connected to an arm 57 fulcrunied upon the fixed support 44. The free end of the arm 57 when raised comes in contact with and tilts the disk 43 in the same manner as the keys 40 as above described and releases the ratchet wheel 27 for the space of one tooth as before described. .Also in conjunction with the above movements, a release is required so that if it be desired to move the carriage forward, a quick action thereof may be effected. The release key 2 connects with one end of a fulcrumed lever 37 the other end of which lever connects by means of a rod 37 with an arm. 35 forn'ied upon an arc of a circle, See Fig. 1, and fulcruu'ied as at 36. The free end of said arm is provided with a wedge-shaped irip-pin 38 which normally fits loosely between. the two dogs so as not to interfere with their normal workings. By depressing release key 24-, arm 35 is moved around its fulcrum point 36 thereby depressing the free end thereof and causing trip-pin 38 to pass bl, ween the enlargements 38 of the dogs and separate the same thereby freeing the ratchet wheel 27 to ermit the carriage to be moved any desired distance forward or to engagement with it i shaped cross-section backward as will be readily understood. A. detailed description will now be given of the connection for operating the printing devices. Fulcrumed upon the supporting structure is within the carriage 19 area series of depressible levers each pivotally connected at one end with a key 40 and iv- -otally connected 'at the other end wit a jointed rod46 extending to a. point near the bottom of the carriage and in turn operatively connecting with a printing device B.

device B and to a socket 50. As shown in Fig. 7, each printing device comprises a block 53 the printing face of which is pro- .videdwith a rubber or other impression member 54 and the back. of which block 53 has adjustably mounted thereon a U-shaped socket between which an arm and two 'uide ods are pivoted. Referring now to ig. 3, bwill be noted that in normal position an appreciable portion of the arms 45 of keys 40 rcstsin horizontal position u on the flat surface of support 44 so that litt e or no strain is exertedupon them.- With deprcs sion of a key 40 a jointed rod'46 exerts a pull upon the fulcrumed end of arm 48 causing same to move against action of a spring 51 toward the opening at the carriage neuter in the bottom thereof. During this movement,

the block 53 pivoted to the end of said arm. 48 is turned over uponitself as clearly illus trated at the center of Fig. 3, the guides 52 servi'n "not only to effect turning over of said b ock but,serve to maintain said block in proper vertical printing position. Such movement of an arm and block causes an imprcssion member 54 to imprint a suitable character or letter upon the fiat surface C upon which the base of the machine stands as for instance a box, crate, barrel head or the like. A description will now be given of the inking pads D of which there is one for every impression member 54. Supported at the top of carriage structure 19 is a ring 60 struck up from which are a series of spaced ears 61 disposed at an inclination and fixed to each of which is a plate 62, see Fig. 5. Secured in appropriate manner around said plate is felt or the like 63 so disposed that an lnk receiving space 64 is present between said felt and plate 62. By this construction inlr may be readily poured from a can into said spaces 64. As clearly shown in Fig.0, an inking pad D is disposed 1n almement with each printing device B so that when at rest or in non-printing position an Impression member 54 is in abutting relation with a formed afi'ord pad. Regarding the ring 60 it is to ho is l .i that ears 65 for forming meansof atahment for the springs 51 are also stam -d therefrom and that the openings 66 iim means for the passthrough said ring or the jointed rods; n Rods 6'7 serve to support the ring (it). Li... disk 4 is supported above rin 60 by ind 68 secured to said ring. The e -bounl 3 in turn is supported upon disk 44 by othm rods 69. As an inspection ofthe drawi 1. m

will show most of the parts may be stamp from sheet metal or the like thus providmu a very light weight and comparatively inwpensive construction. removable provides ready means of access: u all working parts. It is thought that from the foregoingdescription the mode of oper tion of the machine wil be obvious with-cw further description. that the machine is particularly adapted for use in connection with boxes, cratesgbarrcl heads and the like, obviously, the machine .is capable of use for other purposes for in stance the printing of sign boards and simi" iur articles of a flat nature.

It will now be apparent that I have de vised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumcr-' atcd as desirable in the statement of the in-. vcntion and the above description and while have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give sa-t isfactory and reliable results, it is to be-understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of itsadventages.

What I claim is: v

1. In apparatus of the character stated the combination of a base shaped for resting upon a box or barrel said base being provided upon its rear face with a rack, a can The cover 20 hcim.

hile I have stain wheel, a train of horizontally disposed a1"-v wheels mounted upon said carriage an in terposed between said crown wheel and rack printing mechanism, a disk tiltably mounted in a free manner in the path of movement of the printing mechanism, a horizontally disposed lever fulcrumed to the rear of the can riagc structure the forward end of which arm is connected to the central portion of said disk and the rear end of which arm is opcrativcly connected to said feed whereby upon operating the printing mechanism said disk is tilted to operate said feed.

2. In apparatus of the character stated the combination of a" base shaped for resting upon a box or barrel said base being provided with a rack upon its rear face, a carriage along, an escapement at the rear of said carriage provided with a vertically disposed crown wheel, a train of horizontal .37 disposed gear Wheels mounted upon the carriage and interposed between said rack and the crown wheel, printing mechanism, a tiltable disk in the path of travel of said printing meehanism, a horizontally disposed arm fulcrumed to the rear of said carriage the forwardend of said arm being connected to said disk and means connecting the rear of said am with said esoapement for permitting movement of the eseapelnent upon operating the printmechanism.

In apparatus of the character stated, the combination of a base shaped for resting upon a hm orbarrel said base being pro vided with a rack upon its rear face, a car-- tinge mounted for longitudinal movement therealong, a feed for said carriage at the rear thereof pro ided with a vertically disposed crown wheel, a train of horizontally disposed gear wheels mounted upon said ear riage and interposed between said crown wheel and rack, a spacer at the front of said carriage, a tiltahle dislc mounted in the path of movement of said spacer and a lever ful crnmed in horizontal position beneath said disk, the forward end of which is secured to said disk and the rear end of which is secured to said 4. 1n apparatus of the character stated the combination of a base shaped for resting upon a box or barrel said base being provided upon its rear face with a rack, a carriage mounted for longitudinal movement therealong, an escapement mechanism at the rear of said carriage said escapement mechanism being proyided with a vertically dispoled crown whee}, released mechanism for said e'scapement, a train of horizontally disposed gear wheels mounted upon the carriage and interposed between said crown wheel and rack, a horizontally disposed arm fulcrumed to the rear of the carriage and extended partway therearound forwardly in a semi-circular fashion, one end of said arm cooperatively engaging said release mechanism and a release key operativoly connectin with the free end of said arm.

l n testimony whereof, l have hereunto signed my name! THOMAS D HOOPER, JR. Witnesses l VILL'JAM J. JACKSQN,

Jmsnnrrn M. l-liauhaou. 

